Wonderful Counselor

Today's Word of Encouragement from Wayne:

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace"

Isaiah 9:6

I love that "Wonderful Counselor" is the first name mentioned for the "son" Who "will be given to us" in this passage from Isaiah. Even before God mentioned His Own mighty, eternal presence and Lordship, He first wanted people to know that His son was coming to be our "Wonderful Counselor."

God was speaking tender words of comfort to His people, out of love, and of His desire to be in relationship with us to the degree that we would all be seeking after and receiving His Own Counsel, which is always wonderful. This is exactly what we have available to us, right now and always, in our Savior Jesus Christ, Who said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

This is God’s most wonderful counsel for us, to come to Christ, to take His yoke upon us, and stay with Him in His presence so we may learn of Him from Him with the result that we experience "rest" for our souls. This is great wisdom. This certainly is God’s gift to every Christian, to not only know Christ as our "Wonderful Counselor," But to actually walk with Him in His yoke and be transformed by His wonderful counsel.

The apostle Paul wrote about "Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3). I believe these scriptures and know them to be true, and this is why I stay in the yoke with my Savior, for there is no other one I would rather walk with every day, receiving the "treasures" that He continually gives us of Himself. Jesus Christ is Wonderful.

Jesus Christ is my Counselor. Praise God that by His grace each of us is free to say and experience that Jesus Christ is our Wonderful Counselor. "This also comes from the lord of hosts, Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great" (Isaiah 28:29). "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24) is what Paul also declared of our Savior.

Today, walk with the son who has been "born to us" and "given to us." Rest in His yoke and feast upon the treasures of His wisdom and knowledge that He freely gives us of Himself through His never-ending wonderful counsel. Hallelujah!

Reverend Wayne's moving, contemplative Christmas recording "Immanuel" is on sale through Christmas. It will assist you in contemplating the true nature of our Wonderful Counselor- Jesus Christ!